Surah Adiyat >> Currently viewing Surah Adiyat Ayat 1 (100:1)

Surah Adiyat Ayat 1 in Arabic Text

وَٱلۡعَٰدِيَٰتِ ضَبۡحٗا
Wal’aadi yaati dabha

English Translation

Here you can read various translations of verse 1

Sahih International
By the racers, panting,

Yusuf Ali
By the (Steeds) that run, with panting (breath),

Abul Ala Maududi
By (the horses) that charge snorting,

Muhsin Khan
By the (steeds) that run, with panting (breath),

Pickthall
By the snorting courses,

Dr. Ghali
And (by) the snorting chargers,

Abdel Haleem
By the charging steeds that pant

Muhammad Junagarhi
ہانپتے ہوئے دوڑنے والے گھوڑوں کی قسم!

Quran 100 Verse 1 Explanation

For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Adiyat ayat 1, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.

Ala-Maududi

(100:1) By (the horses) that charge snorting,[1]


1. There is no indication in the words of the verse to show whether those who run imply the horses; only the word wal-adiyat (by, those who run) has been used. That is why the commentators have disputed as to what is implied by those who run. One section of the companions and their immediate successors has been to think that it implies the horses; another section says that it implies the camels. But since the peculiar sound called dabh is produced only by the panting, snorting horses, and the following verses also in which mention has been made of striking sparks and raiding a settlement early at dawn and raising clouds of dust, apply only to the horses, most scholars are of the opinion that horses are meant. Ibn Jarir says: Of the two views this view is preferable that by “those who run” horses are implied, for the camel does not breathe hard in running, it is the horse which does so, and Allah has said: By those runners which pant and breathe hard in running. Imam Razi says: The words of these verses proclaim that horses are meant, for the sound of dabh (panting breath) is only produced by the horses, and the act of striking sparks of fire with the hoofs too is associated with the horses, and, likewise, mounting of a raid early at dawn is easier by means of the horses than by other animals.

Ibn-Kathir

1. By the `Adiyat (steeds), snorting. 2. Striking sparks of fire. 3. And scouring to the raid at dawn. 4. And raise the dust in clouds the while. 5. And penetrating forthwith as one into the midst. 6. Verily, man is ungrateful to his Lord. 7. And to that He bears witness. 8. And verily, he is violent in the love of wealth. 9. Knows he not that when the contents of the graves are poured forth 10. And that which is in the breasts shall be made known 11. Verily, that Day their Lord will be Well-Acquainted with them.


Swearing by the Horses of War about the Ungratefulness of Man and His Zeal for Wealth

Allah swears by the horses when they are made to gallop into battle in His path (i.e., Jihad), and thus they run and pant, which is the sound that is heard from the horse when it runs.

﴿فَالمُورِيَـتِ قَدْحاً ﴾

(Striking sparks of fire.) meaning, the striking of their hooves on the rocks, which causes sparks of fire to fly from them.

﴿فَالْمُغِيرَتِ صُبْحاً ﴾

(And scouring to the raid at dawn.) meaning, the raid that is carried out in the early morning time. This is just as the Messenger of Allah used to perform raids in the early morning. He would wait to see if he heard the Adhan (call to prayer) from the people. If he heard it he would leave them alone, and if he didn’t hear it he would attack. Then Allah says,

﴿فَأَثَرْنَ بِهِ نَقْعاً ﴾

(And raise the dust in clouds the while.) meaning, dust at the place of the battle with the horses.

﴿فَوَسَطْنَ بِهِ جَمْعاً ﴾

(And penetrating forthwith as one into the midst.) means, then are all in the middle of that spot, together. Allah’s saying;

﴿فَالْمُغِيرَتِ صُبْحاً ﴾

(And scouring to the raid at dawn.) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and Qatadah, all said, “This means the invasion of the horses in the morning in the way of Allah.” And His statement,

﴿فَأَثَرْنَ بِهِ نَقْعاً ﴾

(And raise the dust in clouds the while.) This is the place in which the attack takes place. The dust is stirred up by it. And His statement,

﴿فَوَسَطْنَ بِهِ جَمْعاً ﴾

(And penetrating forthwith as one into the midst.) Al-`Awfi narrated from Ibn `Abbas, `Ata, `Ikrimah, Qatadah and Ad-Dahhak that they all said, “This means into the midst of the disbelieving enemy.” Concerning Allah’s statement,

﴿إِنَّ الإِنسَـنَ لِرَبِّهِ لَكَنُودٌ ﴾

(Verily, man is ungrateful (Kanud) to his Lord.) This is the subject what is being sworn about, and it means that he (man) is ungrateful for the favors of His Lord and he rejects them. Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, Abu Al-Jawza’, Abu Al-`Aliyah, Abu Ad-Duha, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Muhammad bin Qays, Ad-Dahhak, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and Ibn Zayd all said, “Al-Kanud means ungrateful.” Al-Hasan said, “Al-Kanud is the one who counts the calamities (that befall him) and he forgets Allah’s favors.”

Concerning Allah’s statement,

﴿وَإِنَّهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ لَشَهِيدٌ ﴾

(And to that He bears witness.) Qatadah and Sufyan Ath-Thawri both said, “And indeed Allah is a witness to that.” It is also possible that the pronoun (He) could be referring to man. This was said by Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi. Thus, its meaning would be that man is a witness himself to the fact that he is ungrateful. This is obvious in his condition, meaning this is apparent from his statements and deeds. This is as Allah says,

﴿مَا كَانَ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن يَعْمُرُواْ مَسَاجِدَ الله شَـهِدِينَ عَلَى أَنفُسِهِم بِالْكُفْرِ﴾

(It is not for the idolators, to maintain the Masajid of Allah, while they witness disbelief against themselves.) (9:17) Allah said;

﴿وَإِنَّهُ لِحُبِّ الْخَيْرِ لَشَدِيدٌ ﴾

(And verily, he is violent in the love of wealth.) meaning, and indeed in his love of the good, which is wealth, he is severe. There are two opinions concerning this. One of them is that it means that he is severe. There are two opinions concerning this. One of them is that it means that he is severe in his love of wealth. The other view is that it means he is covetous and stingy due to the love of wealth. However, both views are correct.

The Threat about the Hereafter

Then Allah encourages abstinence from worldly things and striving for the Hereafter, and He informs of what the situation will be after this present condition, and what man will face of horrors. He says,

﴿أَفَلاَ يَعْلَمُ إِذَا بُعْثِرَ مَا فِى الْقُبُورِ ﴾

(Knows he not that when the contents of the graves are poured forth) meaning, the dead that are in it will be brought out.

﴿وَحُصِّلَ مَا فِى الصُّدُورِ ﴾

(And that which is in the breasts shall be made known) Ibn `Abbas and others have said, “This means what was in their souls would be exposed and made apparent.”

﴿إِنَّ رَبَّهُم بِهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَّخَبِيرٌ ﴾

(Verily, that Day their Lord will be Well-Acquainted with them.) meaning, He knows all of that they used to do, and He will compensate them for it with the most deserving reward. He does not do even the slightest amount of injustice. This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat Al-`Adiyat, and all praise and thanks are due to Allah.

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